Stopper.



J. P. LAWRENCE.

STOPPER. APPLIUATION FILED MAR- 18, 1909. RENEWED AUG. 31, 1911. 3,Patented May 6, 1913.

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Application filed March 18, 1909, Serial No. 484,183.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY F. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stoppers;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

The stoppers heretofore used in fluid and in other tanks adapted tocontain fluid under pressure have frequently permitted the leaking orthe escape of the gas or fluid, owing to the imperfect seating of thestopper. Furthermore, as such stoppers have usually been constructedwhen threaded into the orifice therefor the inner or packed end of thestopper has not always seated squarely to prevent leaking and inconsequence, great pressure has been necessary on the stopper to forcethe same inwardly sufficiently to entirely close the tank. Inconsequence, ithas usually been necessary to employ a wrench for thepurpose of setting up or for removing the stopper.

The object of this invention is to provide a stopper of the classdescribed having pivotally secured thereon a closure adapted when inwardpressure is applied on the stopper to adaptitself automatically to theseat.

It is a further object of the invention to afford in connection with astopper of the class described a closure pivotally engaged thereonthrough the axis and convex on the upper side and on which the main bodyof the stopper may rotate freely while threading into or out of theopening.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to afford an exceedinglysimple, cheap and as a whole adapted to be readily threaded into theopening without the aid of a wrench and to nevertheless effectually sealor stop the same, and of course, owing to the construction, adapted tobe readily removed without the aid of a wrench even though subjected togreat pressure within the tank.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side ele- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 6, 1913. Renewed August 31, 1911. Serial No. 647,062.

vation of a tank provided with a stopper embodying my invention. Fig. 2is an enlarged, central, vertical section of a part of the top of thetank showing the stopper in place. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 ofFig. 2. I

As shown in the drawings: A, indicates a tank of sheet metal or othersuitable material adapted to stand pressure from within. Secured in thetop of the tank is the filling tube a, which consists of a metallic tubeinternally threaded at its outer end and provided at the inner end ofthe thread with an upwardly facing, peripheral shoulder affording aseat. Said tube or its inner end is externally threaded and providedwith a downwardly directed shoulder a adapted to bear on the top of thetank A, and adapted to be engaged by a nut a within the tank to firmlylock said pipe in place. Having secured the filling pipe or tube inplace in the tank, the same is usually soldered in place or dipped in abath of molten block tin, so as to effectually seal the joint betweenthe pipe and the can top.

The stopper comprises a main body B, externally threaded to fit withinthe filling plpe having a cylindric, axial aperture therethrough and arecess in its inner end. Laterally directed wings b, are provided on theouter end of the body B, whereby the same may be threaded into or out ofthe filling pipe. Rotatably secured on the threaded plug B, is a closureembracing a washer G, provided with an upwardly directed boss 0 which isspherically convex on the upper side and as shown, in Fig. 2, thediameter of the boss is less than the diameter of the recess and thethickness of the boss is such as to prevent the washer contacting the inner end of the plug B. It is thus seen that only the convex surface ofthe boss contacts the plug B, and the closure is adapted to OS- cillateor rock to tightly seat regardless of the unevenness of the seat. Theclosure C, and boss 0 are provided with a central aperture therethroughto receive the pivot bolt Z), which passes through the plug B, washer C,and through the packing washer 0, on the under side of said washer G,and a nut c, is secured on the end of the stem which loosely secures theclosure C, to the plug B, permitting free rocking of the closure totightly seat and without rotation of the closure.

The operation is as follows: In threading pipe at I claim as myinvention:

1. A stopper embracing a filling member provided with a seat, an axiallyapertured plug threaded into said member, lateral wings thereon, and aflat inner end, a closure adapted to seat on said seat and having a fiatunder face and a spherically convex upper face adapted to bear againstthe flat end of the plug, a bolt extending through both the washer andplug and uniting the same permanently but yieldingly together andpacking material on the inner side of said washer.

2. In a device of the class described a filling tube having an externalseat and an internal seat, said external seat adapted to bear on acontainer, a plug provided with a central recess in its lower side andan aper- .ture extending centrally through the plug from the recess, aclosure adapted to seat on the internal seat in the tube having acentral boss to fit loosely in the recess and having a convex bearingface, a washer on the under face of the closure, said closure, boss andwasher apertured in alinement wit the aperture in the plug and a pivotbolt securing the parts together.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JAY F. LAWRENCE.

Witnesses K. E. HANNAH,

LAWRENCE Rnnns'rnm.

the plu into the filling pipe on the nozzle, the was ler and its packingare forced inwardly without rotation until the packing comes intobearing on the seat, at which time the closure swings or automaticallyadjusts itself to the seat. Owing to the small surface of the washerengaged by the plug, great amplitude of automatic adjustment is providedand very slight effort serves to close the filling pipe effectively,owing to the washer and packing adapting itself perfectly to the seatbecause of the spherically convex upper surface of the washer. Escape ofthe gas or the fluid through the packing washer, is," of course,entirely prevented inasmuch as the collar or nut 0, at the inner end ofthe bolt or stem, bears firmly on the packing, such bearing beingaugmented by any internal pressure, and in consequence, a perfect sealis assured. VVhatsoever the pressure from within exerted on the packing,leakage will therefore not occur, and when it is desired to release theplug or stopper, even though the internal pressure may be very high, itis found in practice that the plug may be readily re tracted by reverserotation when the pivot bolt immediately lifts the closure from the seatand permits discharge.

Of course, I am aware that details of the construction may be varied andI therefore do not purpose limiting this application for patentotherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Washington, D. G.

Commissioner of Patents,

